Tainted Elegancy

As I was swaying my hips and clicking my fingers to the captivating beat of Arabic music, I knew that night would never leave me. I will never forget the city of black gold in its entirety. I was disappointed I had only given myself 56 hours. Just 56 hours to absorb as much of this contrasting and cultural place a body would physically allow.

The experience you get as a tourist is second to the one you can acquire with a few locals. I was invited out by the brother of a friend I met earlier in the year. It was 8pm on a Thursday night in the lavish city of Dubai. I made my way to the lobby knowing that in just 6 hours I had to leave for the airport. I took the helmet from a peacefully awaiting Haytham and we jumped on the back of his Ducati.

We pulled on to the vast highway that stretched six lanes in either direction. The bright lights rushed around me. I sighed with relief, as an expert Haytham slowed in time to pass a police car that was sitting and hunting the inevitable speed demons of Dubai. We arrived out the front of an exquisite hotel and next to it a club with a full line of budding patrons.

It didn’t bother Haytham. We walked towards the entrance and were ushered in and up to the third level. The ground floor was a posh nightclub in my comparison but above the domain of the ‘commoners’ was another world. A world I’d never forget. It was my first time seeing such a level of tainted elegancy. Exotic, though classy dancers, and the most remarkable bar staff you had ever seen. Around the room were cages of fire illuminating a chandelier hanging on the ceiling above them. The interior was coloured in a deep, molten lava red with black and gold surroundings. I was introduced to Haytham’s companions. Souka was his girlfriend. She was absolutely stunning. Her Italian and Moroccan heritage had blended in perfect quantities.

Not long after, Souka and her friend started dancing, champagne in one hand and salmon hors d'oeuvres in the other. They were hypnotic, stealing everyone’s attention without noticing and without a care in the world. After the song had ended Souka taught me the next routine, this time without crystal glasses or food. Saying no to her was not an easy feat, Haytham and his friend chuckled at my efforts. We danced and laughed until I noticed the time and reluctantly mustered the power to leave for my next venture. I farewelled the people I had only known for a few hours whom had given me memories greater than they could imagine.